Troon Golf & Travel, July/August 2018

24 TROON GOLF TRAVEL eMAGAZINE TROON GOLF TRAVEL eMAGAZINE 25 XIONG STRONG ARKANSAS PROUD Oregons Norman Xiong Wins Haskins Award STA R S O F TOMORROW By Brentley Romine By Kevin Casey sponsored by Earlier this spring Oregon head coach Casey Martin called Norman Xiong the best 19 yearold golfer hes seen since Tiger Woods The statement immediately heightened expectations for the ultra talented ultra powerful golfer from Canyon Lake Caliornia But Xiong has embraced the comparison Thats something that I love to hear because ultimately I want to do what Tiger did go out there and really be a dominant golfer and change the game in some way said Xiong who was born in Guam Xiong recently joined a distinguished list of college players that includes Woods The Ducks sophomore won the 2018 Fred Haskins Award presented by Stifel the same award that Woods won in 1996 The award honors the player of the year in mens college golf as selected by college golfers coaches members of the golf media and past Haskins winners It means so much to win this award Xiong said Wednesday on Golf Channel It definitely allows me to reflect and look back at all Ive accomplished this season This award is prestigious The person who does win this award definitely has stood out in college golf The two other finalists this year were Texas senior Doug Ghim and Ole Miss junior Braden Thornberry who won the award last year Xiong who captured the Phil Mickelson Award last season as the nations top freshman won six times in his 2017 18 campaign including the NCAA Stockton Regional He finished his season and his college career with a T 11 at the NCAA Championship at Karsten Creek Xiong who left Oregon after three semesters played his first event as a pro a U S Open sectional qualifier in Memphis He didnt advance to the U S Open at Shinnecock Hills but figures to have a busy summer that includes several sponsor invites to PGA Tour events He has already received exemptions into the John Deere Classic and Barracuda Championship and the Haskins Award victory will get him into the Greenbrier Classic He has signed deals with Callaway and Travis Mathew Im really excited for what the future holds Xiong said For the first time in five years the top player in womens college is in the SEC Maria Fassi was announced as the 2018 winner of the ANNIKA Award Presented by 3M on Wednesday making her the first SEC player to earn the honor in its five year history The ANNIKA Award honors the player of the year in womens college golf as selected by college golfers coaches and members of the golf media I dont have words to explain how excited I am and how grateful I am to be receiving this award today Fassi said on Golf Channel UCLAs Lilia Vu and Wake Forests Jennifer Kupcho were the other finalists for this years honor Vu a junior gunning to become the third Bruin player to capture the award won four times this season and also boasted a pair of runners up showings Kupcho also a junior in 2017 18 triumphed four times as well with an end of season surge by winning her regional and then the NCAA individual title Fassi though was virtually unstoppable this season The Arkansas junior dominated in 2017 18 as she won six times including the NCAA Austin Regional Fassi finished second at the SEC Championship losing in a playoff and prior to the NCAA Championship had no finishes worse than 12th on the season Her stellar play helped key in an historic season for Arkansas one that saw the Razorbacks win seven times and capture their first SEC title in program history They entered the NCAA Championship ranked second in the country and Fassi was No 1 individually With this years honor Fassi earns an exemption into the Evian Championship She will return to Arkansas for her senior season and has already made it clear she intends to stay until the end as the Razorbacks are set to host nationals in 2019 We have one mission left to accomplish and were going to be working all year long to accomplish that mission Maria Fassi Wins ANNIKA Award next May Fassi said Fassi could also become the first backto back ANNIKA winner next season if she plays her cards right Theres much to celebrate but still plenty of possibility for this years honoree This article originally appeared in Golfweek Check out more articles at www Golfweek com maria fassi left celebrates with her coach shauna taylor Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn USA TODAY Sports Photo by WGA Charles Cherney

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